Feeding apparatus, image forming apparatus, control method thereof, and   storage medium storing a program

ABSTRACT

A presence/absence of paper on first and second stacking units, which are each capable of stacking a predetermined size of paper, is detected by first and second detection units. And in a case where a determination is performed as to whether or not paper of a size larger than the predetermined size is stacked astride the first and second stacking units and it is determined that a large size paper is stacked, a paper remaining amount is displayed based on the detection of either the first or second detection unit, and in a case where it is determined that a large size paper is not stacked, paper remaining amounts are displayed based on the detection of the first and second detection units respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to feeding apparatuses, image formingapparatuses, control methods thereof, and storage media storingprograms.

2. Description of the Related Art

Image forming apparatuses that form an image on paper aim for increasedspeed through technological advances, and feeding apparatuses in whichpapers are stacked for feeding to the image forming apparatuses alsorequire mechanisms for stacking large volumes of paper and mechanismscapable of resupplying paper during printing.

Technologies relating to large volume feeding apparatuses such as theseare described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-246058 for example. Inthe feeding apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.11-246058, two paper stacking units are arranged in parallel and in acase where the first paper stacking unit runs out of paper, the paperscontained in the second paper stacking unit are automaticallytransferred to the first paper stacking unit. Thus, a feeding apparatusis described that is capable of stacking twice the papers of an ordinaryfeeding tray by feeding papers continuously in this manner. Descriptionis given in regard to this conventional feeding apparatus with referenceto FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline configuration of aconventional feeding apparatus. Papers P stacked on a right tray 1001are fed sheet by sheet to an image forming unit 1004 due to the rotationof feeding rollers. When there are no more papers P stacked on a bottomboard 1006 of the right tray 1001, the bottom board 1006 is lowered to alower limit position, and after its arrival to the lower limit positionis detected, papers P on a left tray 1002 are transferred to the righttray 1001 by a transfer fence 1009. When transfer of the papers P isfinished in this manner, the bottom board 1006 is raised and feedingfrom the right tray 1001 recommences.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-240630 describes a feedingapparatus that is capable of feeding large sized papers bysimultaneously raising left and right trays in a case where large sizedpapers such as A3 papers are stacked astride the left and right trays.

However, with the above-described conventional image forming apparatus,even in a case where large sized papers such as A3 size or ledger sizedpapers are stacked astride the left and right trays of the feedingapparatus, the display of the remaining amount of paper is carried outseparately for the right tray and the left tray. For this reason, theuser is unable to identify from the display of the remaining amountwhether or not large sized papers are stacked, and there is theprobability that the user will misidentify that small sized papers arestacked. Moreover, the display of the remaining amount cannot accuratelyinform of the remaining amount of paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentionedproblems with the conventional technology.

The present invention provides a technology by which the user canaccurately recognize the status of the contained papers.

The present invention in one aspect provides a feeding apparatus,comprising: first and second stacking units, each configured to becapable of stacking a predetermined size of paper, first and seconddetection units configured to detect a presence/absence of paper on thefirst and second stacking units respectively, a determination unitconfigured to determine whether or not paper of a size larger than thepredetermined size is stacked astride the first and second stackingunits, and a control unit configured to perform control such that apaper remaining amount is displayed based on the detection of either thefirst or the second detection unit in a case where the determinationunit determines that the large size paper is stacked astride, and todisplay paper remaining amounts based on the detection of the first andsecond detection units respectively in a case where the determinationunit determines that the large size paper is not stacked astride.

By changing the form of the remaining amount display of the papersaccording to the present invention for a case in which a predeterminedsize of papers is stacked in two stacking units and for a case in whicha predetermined size of papers is stacked, the user can accurately graspthe status of the papers.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image formingapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an internal structure of animage forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optional feeding unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a right tray has gone intoa no-paper state and papers S-2 placed on a left tray have beentransferred to the right tray in the optional feeding unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which large sized papers S-3 areplaced astride the right tray and the left tray in the optional feedingunit.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a console unit of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C are diagrams for indicating screen examples that aredisplayed on the console unit.

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing one example of a paper information screenthat is displayed when a paper information key is pressed on the consoleunit of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 8B is a diagram fordescribing display forms of an icon that indicates the paper remainingamount of the optional feeding cassette.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for describing control for displaying the iconthat indicates the paper remaining amount in the optional feedingcassette when the paper information key has been pressed.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline configuration of afeeding apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedhereinafter in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Itis to be understood that the following embodiments are not intended tolimit the claims of the present invention, and that not all of thecombinations of the aspects that are described according to thefollowing embodiments are necessarily required with respect to the meansto solve the problems according to the present invention. Same referencenumbers are assigned to same compositional elements and descriptionthereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image formingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A reader unit 101 optically reads an image of a document and outputsimage data thereof. The reader unit 101 is provided with a scanner unit111 that reads the document, and a document feeding unit (DF unit) 112that conveys documents to the scanner unit 111.

A printer unit 102 conveys papers (sheets), then prints the image datathereon as visible images, and discharges to outside the apparatus. Theprinter unit 102 is provided with a feeding unit 122 having multipletypes of paper cassettes, and a printing unit 121 that transfers andfixes the image data onto the paper. As a feeding apparatus according tothe present embodiment, further provided are a discharge unit 123 thatdischarges printed papers to outside the machine, and an optionalfeeding unit 124 having a paper deck capable of being loaded with largevolumes of paper.

A control unit 103 is provided with a CPU 131, an image memory 132, anonvolatile memory 134, a RAM 135, a ROM 136, and a console unit 104.The control unit 103 is electrically connected to the reader unit 101and the printer unit 102. Furthermore, the CPU 131 of the control unit103 provides a copy function by controlling the reader unit 101 to writethe image data of the document to the image memory 132, and controllingthe printer unit 102 to print the image data of the image memory 132onto paper. Further still, various adjustment values are stored in thenonvolatile memory 134. The RAM 135 is used as a work area of the CPU131, and the ROM 136 stores a control program of the CPU 131.

The console unit 104 is provided with a display unit, a touch panelinput unit that is installed over the display unit, and multiple hardkeys. Signals inputted through the touch panel or the hard keys aretransmitted to the CPU 131, and the display unit displays functions ofthe image forming apparatus and image data and the like.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an internal structure of theimage forming apparatus according to an embodiment. As described above,the image forming apparatus is provided with the reader unit 101, theprinter unit 102, the discharge unit 123, and the optional feeding unit124.

First, description is given regarding a configuration and operation ofthe reader unit 101.

A document D placed on a document feeding tray 205 of a document feedingunit 111 is separated sheet by sheet by separation rollers 201 thenconveyed over a platen glass 211 by conveyance rollers 202. Thedocuments D that have passed over the platen glass 211 are discharged toa discharge tray 204 due to the rotation of discharge rollers 203.

The documents D that pass over the platen glass 211 are irradiated by alight source 212, and the light reflected by the document is read asimage data by a CCD image sensor 214 via a lens system 213. The imagedata read by the CCD image sensor 214 is temporarily transferred to thecontrol unit 103 and saved in the image memory 132.

Next, description is given regarding a configuration and operation ofthe printer unit 102.

In an image forming unit 220, the image data that has been saved in theimage memory 132 is sent to a laser output unit 221, and a laser beam isoutputted from the laser output unit 221 based on the image data. Theoutputted laser beam passes through an imaging lens system 222, isreflected by a mirror 223 then condensed as an image onto aphotosensitive member 224. A photosensitive drum 224 is charged inadvance by a primary charger 225 such that an electrostatic latent imageis formed thereon by being irradiated by the beam, then theelectrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 226 toform a toner image.

In the feeding unit 122 and the optional feeding unit 124, printingsheets (printing medium) S and printing sheets S-1 are stacked onto amanual loader 237, feeding cassettes 232 and 233, and a feeding deck(right tray) 241. It should be noted that reference numeral 242indicates a left tray and reference numeral 243 indicates a transitiontray. These are described later with reference to FIG. 3.

The printing sheets S and printing sheets S-1 are conveyed up toregistration rollers 231 by feeding rollers 234, 235, 238, and 244 andconveyance rollers 236, then have their slant corrected by theregistration rollers 231. And then they are further transferred to theimage forming unit 220 with a timing matched to image formingprocessing. In the image forming unit 220, the toner image on thephotosensitive member 224 is transferred onto the incoming printingsheet S by a charger 237. The printing sheet S onto which the tonerimage has been transferred in this manner is separated from thephotosensitive member 224 by a separation charger 238. The separatedprinting sheet S is conveyed to a fixing unit 250 by a conveyance unit239, and the toner image is fixed to the printing sheet S due to theheat and pressure of the fixing unit 250. The printing sheet S ontowhich the toner image has been fixed in this manner is conveyed to thedischarge unit (post-processing unit) 123 by the rotation of dischargerollers 251.

The printing sheet S conveyed to the discharge unit 123 is conveyed to aprocessing tray 263 by rotations of conveyance rollers 261 and 262. Theprinting sheets S that are successively conveyed to the processing tray263 are sorted into printing sheet bundles by a sorting member 264. Theprinting sheet bundles sorted in this manner undergo a stapling processby an unshown stapling unit as required in accordance with instructionsfrom the user. They are then discharged to a stacking tray 266 by bundledischarge rollers 265. In this manner, one unit of copied sheets of thedocument D is finished, and this operation is repeated for the number ofcopies desired by the user.

Next, description is given with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 regarding aconfiguration and operations of the optional feeding unit 124 accordingto the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the optional feeding unit124 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which printing sheets S-1 and S-2 of a smallsize such as A4 size or letter size have been placed on the right tray241 and the left tray 242. Wire ropes 309 a and 309 b are secured ontothe right tray 241 and are connected to a winding shaft 307 by way ofwire pulleys 305 a and 305 b. The right tray 241 is raised by thewinding shaft 307 winding in the wire ropes 309 a and 309 b, and theright tray 241 is lowered by the wire ropes 309 a and 309 b being woundout. In a same manner as the right tray 241, wire ropes 310 a and 310 bare secured onto the left tray 242 and are connected to a winding shaft308 by way of wire pulleys 306 a and 306 b. The left tray 242 is raisedby the winding shaft 308 winding in the wire ropes 310 a and 310 b, andthe left tray 242 is lowered by the wire ropes 310 a and 310 b beingwound out. It should be noted that paper sensors 314 and 315, whichdetect a presence/absence of paper on the trays, are installed on theright tray 241 and the left tray 242 respectively, and when it isdetected that there is no longer any weight of the printing sheets S-1and S-2, a no-paper signal is transmitted to the CPU 131 of the controlunit 103.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the right tray 241 has goneinto a no-paper state and small sized papers S-2 such as A4 size orletter size sheets placed on the left tray 242 have been transferred tothe right tray 241 in the optional feeding unit 124 according to thepresent embodiment. It should be noted that portions common to FIG. 3are shown using identical reference symbols, and description of these isomitted.

A wire rope 313 a is secured onto the transition tray 243 and isconnected again to the transition tray 243 by way of a wire pulley 311 aand a winding shaft 312. By using the winding shaft 312 to cause thewire rope 313 a to move, the transition tray 243 can move rightward andleftward.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which large sized papers S-3 suchas A3 size or ledger sized papers are placed astride the right tray 241and the left tray 242 in the optional feeding unit 124 according to thepresent embodiment. It should be noted that portions common to FIG. 3are shown using identical reference symbols, and description of these isomitted.

By causing the winding shafts 307 and 308 to rotate simultaneously, itis possible to raise and lower the right tray 241 and the left tray 242to the same height.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the console unit 104 of the image formingapparatus according to the present embodiment.

A display unit 600 is provided with a touch panel function and screensfor the main mode settings and status displays are displayed here. Anumeric keypad 601 is used for inputting numerical values of zero tonine. An ID key 602 is used in a case where the image forming apparatusis managed by different divisions for example and when a divisionalnumber and authentication code are to be inputted. A reset key 603 is akey for resetting the mode that has been set. A guide key 604 is a keyfor displaying help screens in each mode. A user mode key 605 is a keyfor entering a user mode screen and a user is able to carry out papersize settings, which are described later, by pressing this user mode key605. An interrupt key 606 is a key that instructs an interruption copy.A start key 607 is a key for causing operations such as copying tocommence, and a stop key 608 is a key for causing a job such as acurrently executed copying job or the like to stop. When a softwarepower source SW609 is pressed, the backlight of the display unit 600extinguishes and the apparatus transitions to low power mode. When apower saving key 610 is pressed, a transition is made to a power savingmode, and when this is pressed again, the apparatus returns from thepower saving mode.

A screen contrast key 614 is a key for adjusting the contrast of thedisplay unit 600. When a counter confirmation key 615 is pressed, acount screen is displayed on the display unit 600 that displays anaggregate of the number of sheets used for copying up to that point. AnLED 616 lights when image data is being accumulated in the image memory132 during job execution. An error LED 617 lights when the apparatus isin an error state such as a paper jam or when a door on the apparatus isopen. A power supply LED 618 lights when the main switch of theapparatus is on. When the user touches a paper information key 619,paper sizes, types, and remaining amounts are displayed on the displayunit 600.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C, description is givenregarding a method for setting paper sizes to be stacked in the optionalfeeding unit 124.

When the user presses the user mode key 605 on the console unit 104, auser mode setting screen shown in FIG. 7A is displayed on the displayunit 600. A paper size setting button 701 is a button by which the usersets the paper size. A return button 702 is a key for causing the screenprior to transitioning to the user mode setting screen to be displayedon the display unit 600.

FIG. 7B is a diagram showing one example of a paper size setting screenthat is displayed when the paper size setting button 701 is pressed onthe screen of FIG. 7A.

An optional feeding unit button 704 is displayed on this paper sizesetting screen, and when the user presses this button 704, a paper sizespecification screen shown in FIG. 7C is displayed. From this paper sizespecification screen, the user is able to set the paper size of theoptional feeding cassette 124. A return button 705 is a button forreturning to the user mode setting screen of FIG. 7A.

By pressing any of buttons 707 through 712 on the paper size settingscreen of the optional feeding cassette 124 shown in FIG. 7C, the sizeof the papers to be stacked in the optional feeding cassette 124 can bespecified. The paper size specified in this manner is saved in a papersize saving area (not shown in diagrams) of the nonvolatile memory 134.A return button 713 is a button for returning to the paper size settingscreen of FIG. 7B.

In FIG. 7C, the button 707 enables A4 size to be specified, and button708 is for letter size, button 709 for B5 size, button 710 for A3 size,button 711 for ledger size, and button 712 for legal size.

In this way, by having the user specify in advance from the operationscreens shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C the paper size to be stacked in theoptional feeding cassette 124, the image forming apparatus is able toidentify the paper size of the optional feeding cassette 124.

Next, description is given with reference to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8Bregarding a method for displaying a paper remaining amount for eachfeeding entrance.

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing one example of a paper information screenthat is displayed when the paper information key 619 is pressed on theconsole unit 104 of the image forming apparatus according to the presentembodiment.

A region 802 is a region that indicates paper information, and referencenumerals 803 through 806 are icons that indicate remaining amounts ofpaper. The icon 803 is an icon that indicates the paper remaining amounton the manual loader 237, icon 804 indicates this for the feedingcassette 232, and the icon 805 indicates this for the feeding cassette233, while the icon 806 is an icon that indicates the paper remainingamount of the optional feeding cassette 124. An OK button 807 is abutton that closes this paper information screen.

In FIG. 8A it is evident that the manual loader 237 is in a state of nopaper and the remaining amount of heavy paper in the feeding cassette233 is approximately half that of a full state. Furthermore, it isevident that in the optional feeding cassette 124, the A4 size papersstacked on the right tray 241 and the left tray 242 respectively are inan almost full state.

FIG. 8B is a diagram for describing display forms of the icon (graphic)806 that indicates the paper remaining amounts of the optional feedingcassette 124.

In FIG. 8B, the reference numerals 811 through 815 indicate displayexamples of the icon 806 that indicates the paper remaining amount ofthe optional feeding cassette 124. The icon 811 corresponds to a case ofpapers of a size smaller than a predetermined size (for example, a statein which any one of the buttons 707, 708, and 709 corresponding to smallsizes is specified on the paper size specification screen of FIG. 7C).And this also indicates a state in which papers are stacked on both theright tray 241 and the left tray 242.

The icon 812 indicates a case where paper of a size smaller than thepredetermined size has been specified. In this case, it indicates astate in which papers are stacked on the right tray 241 and papers arenot stacked on the left tray 242. The icon 813 is for a case where paperof a size smaller than the predetermined size has been specified, andindicates a state in which paper is not stacked on either the right tray241 or the left tray 242.

The icon 814 corresponds to a case of printing papers of a size largerthan a predetermined size (for example, a state in which any one of thebuttons 710, 711, and 712 is specified on a paper size variation screenof FIG. 7C). Here a state is indicated in which papers are stackedastride the right tray 241 and the left tray 242. The icon 815 is for acase where paper of a size larger than the predetermined size has beenspecified, and is an icon that indicates a state in which paper is notstacked on either the right tray 241 or the left tray 242.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for describing control for displaying the icon 806that indicates the paper remaining amount in the optional feedingcassette 124 of the paper information screen of FIG. 8A when the paperinformation key 619 has been pressed on the image forming apparatusaccording to the present embodiment. Processing indicated by thisflowchart is realized by the CPU 131 executing a program stored on theROM 136.

When the user presses the paper information key 619 on the console unit104 at S901, the CPU 131 obtains the paper size specified for theoptional feeding cassette 124, which is saved in the paper size savingarea (not shown in diagrams) of the nonvolatile memory 134. Then,proceeding to S902, the CPU 131 obtains a signal from the paper sensor314 of the right tray 241 and proceeds to S903. At S903 the CPU 131determines whether or not the paper size obtained at S901 is a largesize greater than the predetermined size, and transitions to S904 if itis a large size, and transitions to S907 if it is not a large size. AtS904 the CPU 131 transitions to S905 in a case where the signal from thepaper sensor 314 obtained at S902 does not indicate no-paper, andtransitions to S906 if it does indicate no-paper. At S905 the CPU 131displays the icon 814 shown in FIG. 8B in the position of the icon 806.On the other hand, at S906 the CPU 131 displays the icon 815 shown inFIG. 8B in the position of the icon 806.

In this way, according to the icons 814 and 815, the user can identifywhether or not there is paper in the optional feeding cassette 124 whenlarge size paper has been specified for the optional feeding cassette124.

On the other hand, when the paper size is not large size, the CPU 131obtains a signal from the paper sensor 315 of the left tray 242 at S907and transitions to S908. At S908 the CPU 131 transitions to S909 in acase where it determines that the signal from the paper sensor 314obtained at S902 does not indicate no-paper, and transitions to S912 ifit determines that it does indicate no-paper. At S909 the CPU 131transitions to S910 in a case where the signal from the paper sensor 315obtained at S907 does not indicate no-paper, and transitions to S911 ifit does indicate no-paper. At S910, since there is a state in whichpaper is present on both the right tray 241 and the left tray 242, theCPU 131 displays the icon 811 of FIG. 8B in the position of the icon806. On the other hand, at S911, since the left tray 242 has no paper,the CPU 131 displays the icon 812 of FIG. 8B in the position of the icon806.

Furthermore, at S912 the CPU 131 transitions to S911 in a case where thesignal from the paper sensor 315 obtained at S907 does not indicateno-paper, and transitions to S913 if it does indicate no-paper. At S913,since both the right tray 241 and the left tray 242 have no paper, theCPU 131 displays the icon 813 of FIG. 8B in the position of the icon806.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a case wheresmall size papers are stacked, the paper remaining amounts of the leftand right trays are displayed separately, and in a case where large sizepapers are stacked, a single remaining amount is displayed for the leftand right trays. In this way, the user is able to accurately grasp thestatus of the papers inside the feeding cassettes.

It should be noted that the present embodiment was configured such thattwo states were displayed for the paper remaining amounts, these beingno-paper or paper-present, but it is also possible to vary the iconssuch that the status of paper-present is shown incrementally.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the icon 812 is displayed in acase where the right tray 241 has no paper and the left tray 242 haspaper, but since paper on the left tray 242 is being transferred to theright tray 241 at this time, it is also possible to display an iconindicating that paper is being transferred.

Furthermore, in a case where the detection results of the paper sensors314 and 315 of the left and right trays 241 and 242 are different fromeach other when large size papers have been specified, for example inthe state shown in FIG. 5, there is a possibility that the raisedpositions of the left and right trays 241 and 242 are different fromeach other. Alternatively, it is also possible that the paper sizespecification by the user is incorrect via the screens shown in FIG. 7Ato 7C.

Accordingly, it is desirable that a message or the like prompting theuser to confirm the positions of the left and right trays 241 and 242 orthe paper size setting is displayed on the console unit 104.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™,a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

Furthermore, a control circuit designed so as to execute the processingbased on each flowchart may be used instead of the CPU 131.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2013-232582, filed Nov. 8, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A feeding apparatus, comprising: first and secondstacking units, each configured to be capable of stacking apredetermined size of paper, first and second detection units configuredto detect a presence/absence of paper on the first and second stackingunits respectively, a determination unit configured to determine whetheror not paper of a size larger than the predetermined size is stackedastride the first and second stacking units, and a control unitconfigured to perform control such that a paper remaining amount isdisplayed based on the detection of either the first or the seconddetection unit in a case where the determination unit determines thatthe large size paper is stacked astride, and to display paper remainingamounts based on the detection of the first and second detection unitsrespectively in a case where the determination unit determines that thelarge size paper is not stacked astride.
 2. The feeding apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit varies an icon fordisplay between a case where the determination unit determines that thelarge size paper is stacked astride and a case where the determinationunit determines that the large size paper is not stacked astride.
 3. Thefeeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit isconfigured to perform control so as to display the paper remainingamount using a graphic that expresses a paper larger than thepredetermined size in a case where the determination unit determinesthat the large size paper is stacked astride, and to display the paperremaining amount using a graphic that expresses the predetermined sizeof paper in a case where the determination unit determines that thelarge size paper is not stacked astride.
 4. An image forming apparatus,comprising: first and second stacking units, each configured to becapable of stacking a predetermined size of paper, first and seconddetection units configured to detect a presence/absence of paper on thefirst and second stacking units respectively, a determination unitconfigured to determine whether or not paper of a size larger than thepredetermined size is stacked astride the first and second stackingunits, a control unit configured to perform control such that a paperremaining amount is displayed based on the detection of either the firstor the second detection unit in a case where the determination unitdetermines that the large size paper is stacked astride, and to displaypaper remaining amounts based on the detection of the first and seconddetection units respectively in a case where the determination unitdetermines that the large size paper is not stacked astride, and animage forming unit configured to form an image on a paper that is fedfrom the first stacking unit.
 5. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein the control unit varies an icon for display betweena case where the determination unit determines that the large size paperis stacked astride and a case where the determination unit determinesthat the large size paper is not stacked astride.
 6. The image formingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configuredto perform control so as to display the paper remaining amount using agraphic that expresses a paper larger than the predetermined size in acase where the determination unit determines that the large size paperis stacked astride, and to display the paper remaining amount using agraphic that expresses the predetermined size of paper in a case wherethe determination unit determines that the large size paper is notstacked astride.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,further comprising a transfer unit configured to transfer paper stackedon the second stacking unit to the first stacking unit when the firststacking unit runs out of paper when the paper is the predetermined sizeof paper.
 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, furthercomprising: a specifying unit configured to specify according to a useroperation a size of paper to be stacked on the first and second stackingunits, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not paper isstacked astride the first and second stacking units based on a papersize specified by the specifying unit.
 9. A control method forcontrolling a feeding apparatus having first and second stacking units,each configured to be capable of stacking a predetermined size of paper,and first and second detection units configured to detect apresence/absence of paper on the first and second stacking unitsrespectively, the control method comprising: a determination step ofdetermining whether or not paper of a size larger than the predeterminedsize is stacked astride the first and second stacking units, and acontrol step of performing control such that a paper remaining amount isdisplayed based on the detection of either the first or the seconddetection unit in a case where a determination is performed in thedetermination step that the large size paper is stacked astride, andpaper remaining amounts are displayed based on the detection of thefirst and second detection units respectively in a case where adetermination is performed in the determination step that the large sizepaper is not stacked astride.
 10. A control method for controlling animage forming apparatus having first and second stacking units, eachconfigured to be capable of stacking a predetermined size of paper, andfirst and second detection units configured to detect a presence/absenceof paper on the first and second stacking units respectively, thecontrol method comprising: a determination step of determining whetheror not paper of a size larger than the predetermined size is stackedastride the first and second stacking units, a control step ofperforming control such that a paper remaining amount is displayed basedon the detection of either the first or the second detection unit in acase where a determination is performed in the determination step thatthe large size paper is stacked astride, and paper remaining amounts aredisplayed based on the detection of the first and second detection unitsrespectively in a case where a determination is performed in thedetermination step that the large size paper is not stacked astride, andan image forming step of forming an image on a paper that is fed fromthe first stacking unit.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium on which is stored a program that causes to be executed on acomputer: a determination step of determining whether or not paper of asize larger than a predetermined size is stacked astride the first andsecond stacking units, which are each capable of stacking thepredetermined size of paper, and a control step of performing controlsuch that a paper remaining amount is displayed based on the detectionof either the first or the second detection unit, which detect apresence/absence of paper on the first and second stacking unitsrespectively, in a case where a determination is performed in thedetermination step that the large size paper is stacked astride, andpaper remaining amounts are displayed based on the detection of thefirst and second detection units respectively in a case where adetermination has is performed in the determination step that the largesize paper is not stacked astride.
 12. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium on which is stored a program thatcauses to be executed on a computer: a determination step of determiningwhether or not paper of a size larger than a predetermined size isstacked astride the first and second stacking units, which are eachcapable of stacking the predetermined size of paper, a control step ofperforming control such that a paper remaining amount is displayed basedon the detection of either the first or the second detection unit in acase where a determination is performed in the determination step thatthe large size paper is stacked astride, and paper remaining amounts aredisplayed based on the detection of the first and second detection unitsrespectively, which detect a presence/absence of paper on the first andsecond stacking units respectively, in a case where a determination isperformed in the determination step that the large size paper is notstacked astride, and an image forming step of forming an image on apaper that is fed from the first stacking unit.